The city of Indore lived up to its reputation as the cleanest city in the country and, thanks to seasonal rains, appeared bright and pristine. The drive to the facility of Great Galleon Ventures Ltd (GGVL) passes through wide expanses of farmland dominated by soya crops that define the region’s agricultural landscape.

The factory complex is not flashy, but it conveys a quiet sense of purpose. It is spacious, functional and remarkably clean. GGVL’s operations span production of extra-neutral alcohol, the critical base for premium spirits, including vodka, gin and whiskey. A modern distillery and large-scale bottling facilities add to its in-house strength.

GGVL also has its own portfolio of IMFL with brands like V21 vodka, Rascal RTDs, Ritz and Goa whiskies, Bigg Bull rum, Yaary beer and country liquor brands that are popular within Madhya Pradesh.

In addition, the company supports contract manufacturing for multinational giants such as Pernod Ricard, Diageo and Amrut.

Utsav Kedia, Vice-President for Business Growth, says that by converting recycled resin into high-quality bottles, GGVL reduces reliance on virgin plastics and employ sustainable packaging solutions.

Clear vision

The business, which commenced operations in 1985, has been shaped by the vision and continuity of the Kedia family that has, over generations, steadily expanded its capabilities and presence. Their approach has always been to combine scale with flexibility, enabling the company to adapt quickly to shifts in consumer preferences and market demand.

The distillery employs multi-pressure distillation columns fitted with advanced automation and energy-recovery systems. These systems ensure consistent quality while also optimizing steam consumption, making the process more sustainable.

With a strong emphasis on quality and innovation, it has managed to carve out a niche in an industry that is increasingly competitive, and brand driven. Leading the initiative today is Utsav Kedia, Vice-President for Business Growth, representing the third generation of the family.

With his global perspective and modern management outlook, he has driven diversification, premiumisation, and stronger alliances with international partners.

Under his leadership, GGVL has placed equal emphasis on efficient manufacturing and on building a reputation as a trusted partner for both domestic and global alcobev companies.

The company produces rPET (recyclable polyethylene terephthalate) bottles in-house using advanced injection stretch blow moulding technology on production lines supplied by Nissei ASB Machine Co., a world-renowned Japanese manufacturer of moulding machines and moulds for PET containers.

The process begins with food-grade recycled PET resin granules that are dried, melted and injection-moulded into preforms. These preforms are then precisely conditioned to achieve the right temperature balance for stretching before being blown with high-pressure air into moulds shaped to the required design.

One of the biggest breakthroughs came from the company’s in-house R&D team, which spent long hours experimenting to overcome the natural brownish tint of recycled PET. After extensive trial and error, they perfected a distinctive pure white colour that not only masks the rPET hue but also gives the packs a clean, premium appearance.

On display at the GGVL bottling plant near Indore are resin granules of (L-R) 100% rPET, 100% virgin PET and 30% rPET.

‘Green’ planet

This capability has allowed GGVL to pioneer its own hipster rPET packs (strongly reminiscent of the hipflasks of yore!). Sleek, flat-sided and travel-friendly, they are produced with uniform wall thickness, clarity and strength.

The Nissei lines are designed for flexibility, with multi-cavity moulds and rapid changeovers enabling production of a wide range of bottles without compromising quality. Inline inspection, burst testing, and mechanical integrity checks ensure every container meets stringent standards for global beverage packaging.

By converting recycled resin into high-quality bottles, the company reduces reliance on virgin plastics while offering scalable, sustainable packaging solutions tailored to modern alcobev needs.

Today, GGVL continues its legacy of innovation with the Bold Planet Initiative, a sustainability-driven charter that redefines its approach to packaging, production, and environmental stewardship.

Central to this is the shift from virgin PET to 100% rPET across the V21 portfolio comprising triple-distilled, silver-filtered, green apple and orange vodka. The environmental benefits are substantial:

• 93% less water use (saving 70 litres per kg of rPET produced)
• 76% lower energy consumption (enough to power over 3.2 lakh homes annually
• 79% reduction in CO2 emissions (equivalent to CO2 absorption of nearly 3 million trees in a single day).

The Bold Planet Charter extends far beyond rPET adoption. The company has eliminated wasteful mono cartons in its premium whisky range, introduced recycled label papers and is experimenting with the usage of eco-friendly inks, and fostered gender diversity, with women now comprising nearly 80% of its manufacturing workforce. 

GGVL is also a leader in circular economy practices, achieving one of the highest recycled glass utilisation levels in the Indian spirits industry and has embarked on the journey of optimising supply chains to further reduce carbon emissions.

Through these efforts, it is not just reducing its footprint, it is actively shaping a sustainable future for the alcobev sector, proving that innovation, responsibility and premium quality can advance together under a bold, purposeful charter.